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News You Can Use
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| SEPTA’s New Transit Schedules Take Effect This Weekend |
New schedules for most City, Suburban, and Victory Transit divisions go into effect Sunday, Aug. 26, and Monday, Aug. 27. Most changes to schedules include adjustments to run times to accommodate fall service levels and to improve customer service. Customers should check the 2018 Fall Transit Schedule page for a summary of major route changes and to view and download new schedules.
Customers on all routes are encouraged to consult updated schedules before starting their trips. New schedules are available at SEPTA customer locations and online here.
In addition, senior citizen users of SEPTA should be aware that beginning Sept. 1, seniors will need a SEPTA Key Senior ID Card or a valid Pennsylvania driver’s license or Non-Driver Photo ID with a magnetic strip on the back (issued prior to July 2017) to receive the senior fare discount. If you do not have yours yet, please join us at a FREE SEPTA Senior Pass Event this Wednesday, Aug. 29, at the Central Bucks Senior Center, 700 North Shady Retreat Road, Doylestown. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please bring a photo ID with you. You can always call my office for details.
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| Save the Dates for Local Flu Vaccine Clinics |
Local health agencies, including the Bucks County Department of Health, are already planning for the upcoming flu season. They have scheduled three flu vaccine clinics in the county listed below:
• Doylestown – Saturday, Sept. 29, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 1282 Almshouse Road.
• Quakertown – Saturday, Sept. 29, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 261 California Road.
• Bensalem – Friday, Oct. 12, from 4-8 p.m.; and Saturday, Oct. 13, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2913 Street Road.
The vaccinations are free to Bucks County residents ages 3 and older. For more information, call the Bucks County Department of Health at (215) 345-3319 or visit here.
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Ensuring Veterans Have Information about Burial Benefits
To help ensure that local veterans and their families have all the information available to help them at the time of burial, I have introduced legislation in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to better educate them about burial benefits from the U.S. Veterans Administration.
Far too often, veterans, their family members and other loved ones may not be aware that benefits regarding their passing and burial may be available to them. This is especially true for local veterans who may not be aware about the national veterans cemetery at Washington Crossing, right here in Bucks County. These veterans sacrificed so much to protect our freedom and defend our democracy, that I believe more should be done to ensure veterans are aware of all the benefits they have earned.
My proposal, House Bill 2583, would require funeral directors, pre-need or cemetery companies to provide information regarding the availability of VA burial benefits. The information shall include but not be limited to the following:
• VA burial benefits and allowance.
• Internment in national cemeteries.
• Presidential memorial certificates.
• Military funeral honors.
• Flags to be draped over caskets.
• VA-provided headstones and markers.
I learned about this gap when talking to family members who were unaware of these benefits at the time of planning a loved one’s funeral. In some circumstances, incorrect or misleading information was mistakenly given to veterans regarding the availability of burial benefits.
For more information on the bill, click here.
Protecting Victims of Child Sexual Assault
In the aftermath of the Pennsylvania attorney general’s shocking and disturbing grand jury report on child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, the General Assembly will continue to take important steps to help protect victims and ensure they have both a voice and justice.
After the Penn State tragedy, the General Assembly created the Task Force on Child Protection, which then recommended numerous changes and updates to state laws. The more than two dozen new laws enacted during the 2013-14 session were designed to put the child first and written in a way that prosecutors, advocates and others see the abuse from the eyes of a child.
Among those new laws were those to make abusers pay the price; improve child abuse reporting and investigations; share information to increase protection; strengthen prevention efforts; and criminalize the practice of “grooming.”
The work to protect children continues. Earlier this session, the House passed Act 67 of 2017, which eliminates the sunset provision in the Crimes Code regarding issuance of administrative subpoenas in investigations involving child sexual exploitation or abuse; and Act 54 of 2018, which requires public and nonpublic schools, as well as hospitals, to display a poster with the statewide toll-free telephone number for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect (ChildLine).
The House also passed House Bill 1527, which is currently in the Senate, to clarify that mandated reporters must report suspected child abuse whenever they personally witness an abusive act to an identifiable child.
This fall, the House is expected to consider Senate Bill 261, which would eliminate the criminal statute of limitations for prosecutions of sexual abuse of minors, extend the civil statute of limitations for lawsuits alleging sexual abuse of minors until the victim reaches 50 years of age, waive sovereign and governmental immunity for claims and remove caps on damages against governmental parties sued for sexual abuse of minors.
Currently, the statute of limitations for civil claims alleging sexual abuse of a minor is until the victim reaches age 30; and the statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions alleging sexual offenses against a minor is until the victim reaches age 50. In its current form, the bill would apply to future crimes only.
Anyone who suspects a child may be abused or neglected is encouraged to call ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313. More information about child abuse is available at www.keepkidssafe.pa.gov. Those who have been affected by abuse stemming from the grand jury report are urged to visit www.attorneygeneral.gov/report for additional resources.
Fun at the Middletown Grange Fair
During last week’s Middletown Grange Fair, I caught up with two young 4-Hers. Julia Blake exhibited her rabbit. We are pictured with her brother, Evan. Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s Grange Fair. We are so proud to have such a strong agricultural heritage here in Bucks County.
Eyes in the Skies: Committee Explores State Use of Drones
At a meeting this week at the Bedford County Airport, members of the House Transportation Committee learned more about ways in which drones are being used to enhance safety, emergency preparedness and transportation within the Commonwealth.
Drones, which are pilotless, radio-controlled aircraft used for reconnaissance and routinely include cameras, are not only used by commercial enterprises and research entities but are growing in use by government agencies for emergency preparedness and response.
Testifying on their state government applications this week were officials from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Civil Air Patrol, Norfolk Southern Railroad, and Szanca Solutions and Eye In the Sky Unmanned Aerial Systems.
Last session, the Joint State Government Commission conducted a study on drones, which included operations performed by state and local agencies. Additionally, the report enumerates the categories of use and current federal regulations. That report is available here.
DEP Offers Grants to Farmers and Small Businesses
About $1 million of grant funding is available to Pennsylvania farmers and small business for pollution prevention, energy efficiency and natural resource protection projects through the Small Business Advantage grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). For the first time, grants will be available to farmers and ranchers for projects that reduce and prevent pollution on working lands.
Natural resource protection projects include the opportunity to plant riparian buffers, install streambank fencing to keep livestock out of streams, and agricultural storm water management projects, with the goal of reducing sediment and nutrient loads in our waterways.
Eligible projects are those that adopt or acquire equipment or processes that reduce energy use or pollution. Examples of eligible projects are HVAC and boiler upgrades, high-efficiency lighting, solvent recover and waste recycling systems, and auxiliary power units deployed as anti-idling technology for trucks. Last year, 150 small businesses were awarded more than $953,000 in grants for their projects.
Pennsylvania-based small business owners with 100 or fewer full-time employees are eligible. Projects must save the business a minimum of $500 and 25 percent annually in energy consumption, or pollution related expenses.
Businesses can apply for 50 percent matching funds of up to $9,500 to adopt or acquire energy-efficient or pollution prevention equipment or processes. Only costs incurred between July 20, 2018, and June 30, 2019, are eligible.
Applications will be considered on a first come, first served basis, and will be accepted until fiscal year 2018-19 funds are exhausted, or April 12, 2019, whichever occurs first.
All applications must be submitted through the Commonwealth’s Single Application for Assistance website. Printed, faxed and mailed applications are not accepted.
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| Office Locations |
| 1032 N. Easton Rd, Doylestown, PA 18902-1055 | Phone: (215) 489-2126 |
| 141 East Wing, PO Box 202143, Harrisburg PA 17120-2143 | Phone: (717) 772-1413 |
| Email: mquinn@pahousegop.com |
| TTY: 855-282-0614 |
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